I-94 Raceway memories

Monday, November 14, 2016

There has been much discussion over the years about why did track owner Dick Johanneck change the surface at I-94 Speedway in Sauk Centre (MN) from Dirt to Asphalt in 1994.

It is a fact that many fans were pelted with rocks and numerous windshields were broken up in the tailgate section in turns 3 and 4 at I-94 Speedway in 1993. I think the negativity surrounding the track surface contributed to the decision to do the reported $120,000 project of paving the 3/8th mile oval in Sauk Centre MN.

Here is recap of the 1994 season which includes a recording of the press conference where Dick Johanneck explains his reasons for the switch. Some of you might be surprised by his perspective at the time.

Here is a link to the final "Top 10" point standings in 1994.. some really big names in dirt track racing made the move to racing at I-94 Speedway, many of them only for a short time including: Shawn Kirwin, Dave Cain, Ryan Muzik, Gary Reents, Al Stewart, Ken Bullick, Chris Groth, Greg Meyer, Jon Hinkemeyer, Dave Stork and others.http://smokejackson.blogspot.com/2010/11/1994-point-standings.html

The biggest event of the year was the inaugural Governors Cup ARTGO race on September 11th 1994. It was a 100 lap race that paid $2500 to the winner. Steve Carlson won that race, also competing included future NASCAR stars Matt Kenseth and Michael Waltrip also ASA Champion Kevin Cywinski, future owner of I-94 Raceway Tim Olson and many other big names in Late Model racing including Jon Lemke, Jason Schneider, Tim Sauter, Johnny Spaw, Jim Weber, Mark Noble, Larry Schuler, Brad Miller and others.

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Sauk
Centre, MN, July 1, 1994 -- The overcast sky did not dampen the
spirits of the biggest crowd of the year that turned out for the KCLD
Fireworks night at the I-94 Speedway. In the WISSOTA Modified feature
it was Kyle Raguse claiming his first ever pavement win. At the drop of
the green it was Steve Johanneck leading lap one, before Rick Burns
took command on lap two and then Shawn Kirwin took over on lap three.
Kirwin then extended his lead by the half-way point to a full
straight-away over the others. Disaster struck Kirwin with four laps to
go as his rear-end gears let loose, thus setting up a fight to the
finish. Newcomer Raguse took the top spot and had to hold off hard
charger Dave Stork by inches at the line.

Eugene Dick continued his winning ways as he took the feature event in
the WISSOTA Late Model division. Bill Woodworth took advantage of his
pole position to take the early lead. Woodworth held the top spot for
the first 20 laps of the race. With five laps remaining, Woodworth spun
in turn one, as Steve Fegers was turning up the heat for the lead.
Fegers also slid his car, but when the race was restarted, he inherited
the lead. Points leader Dick used the late race caution to make a run
to the front and with just two laps to go, Dick hooked up on the high
side and claimed the lead for the two remaining circuits. Fegers
finished a close second with Rich Snyder third.

In the WISSOTA Super Stock feature it was Twin Cities racer Paul
Paine taking home the trophy. Paine took the lead on lap one and never
looked back as he cruised the entire race in the lead. Bryan Roach
finished second and Bob Snyder finished third.

In the KCLD WISSOTA Street Stock feature it was Pat Henry once
again finishing ahead of the rest. Henry started outside the third row
but quickly found himself in the lead on lap one. The Sauk Centre
native was able to withstand the constant pressure applied by Jim Bring
and Tyrone Swanson in the dash to the finish. The win was Henry's third
in as many weeks at his home track.

Jamie
Winterquist made the long trek from Grandin, North Dakota pay-off as he
led the entire Four Cylinder/Mini-Mod feature from start to finish. As
Winterquist ran away out front, the action turned to the second place
battle between Frank Gabrelcik and Bill "frog" Nornberg. The two cars
touched in turn two, sending Gabrelcik into the wasll and Nornberg to
the back of the pack. "Frog" hopped through the field to reclaim
second, but that was as far as he could get to Winterquist by the time
the checkered flag waved.

p.s.

This was the first race story I ever wrote. Dean Reller usually did all the race stories but he had the night off and I was asked to do it. Great memories and great racing at I-94.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

I-94 Speedway in Sauk Centre opened in 1991, the name was changed to I-94 Raceway in 2001 and then closed in 2009. Here are some photos of how the track looks on Easter of 2015. Do not let this happen to your local race track, please support motorsports in your area.

In my opinion, the track will never again open so, we should celebrate the history of this great racing facility. Please click around this web-site www.smokejackson.blogspot.com and remember the good times had at I-94 Raceway.

Photos by Jason D Searcy (I-94 announcer 2001-2008)

If you have any photos or memories of this track and would like to contribute them to this web-site just email them to i94raceway@gmail.com

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

SAUK CENTRE, MN (August 21, 2004) - Dan Fredrickson's experience in
longer races came to the forefront as he captured the rain-shortend Jeremy
"Tire Guy" Johnson 150 Memorial at the I-94 Raceway in Sauk Centre. Benny
VanCleve led the field of 24 to the green flag and it was Eugene Dick who
took control on the opening lap. Andy Hanson moved to second as the lead
pack stayed close. Eighth starting Fredrickson was on the move right away
as he passed both Hanson and Dick to become the new race leader on lap
nine. The first caution of the race waved on lap ten, when Jon and Tim
Olson got together just out of turn four. When racing resumed,
Fredrickson continued to show the way as Hanson tried to work his way
past. Hanson was unable to get the run he needed and this allowed Todd
Hansen to catch the front pair and make it a three-car race for the lead.
Hansen would pass Hanson, just prior to the yellow flag for Jeff
Lofquist's spin on lap 55. Fredrickson quickly restarted the race and
Hansen turned up the pressure as he pulled alongside and raced
wheel-to-wheel for the lead. Hanson was right behind the top two as he
sat in the very close third spot. Lapped traffic kept the leader busy as
Fredrickson still was the top car in the race. With a mandatory race
break at lap 100, Hansen seized the opportunity and grabbed the lead at
the stripe to hold the lead going into the break.
Hansen showed the way as the race resumed and Fredrickson became the
challenger as he tried to pull alongside the leader. It wasn't long
before it was side-by-side for the lead and Fredrickson used the bottom
of the track to his advantage as he retook the lead on lap 111. Hansen
continued strong and he took the lead back on the following lap. Bill
Rode's spin on lap 116, brought out yet another yellow and on the
restart, Fredrickson gained the advantage as he took the lead for the
final time. Hansen stayed close, but as the race wore on, he slipped back
as Fredrickson pulled to a full straightaway advantage at one point. The
final caution waved on lap 146, when Eugene Dick spun in turn one. During
the caution, a thunderstorm moved over the track and dropped enough rain
to force race officials to call the race complete at 145 laps and award
Fredrickson the win.
Jon Lewerer was one of the many drivers the Jeremy "Tire Guy" Johnson
had helped in the pits and it was a emotional moment in Victory Lane as
Lewerer paid tribute to a fallen friend by winning the Modified Feature.
John Gottwald looked fast early on as he set the pace in the first six
laps. Sixth starting Lewerer drove hard and on lap seven, he pulled off
the pass in turn four. Once in the lead, Lewerer checked-out, pulling to
a full straightaway lead as he blasted to the win in the cautionless
race. Gottwald completed his best race of season as he held off Kevin
Woeste for second. Following the race, Lewerer bolted from his car,
climbed the front stretch fence, saluted the fans and dedicated the win
to Jeremy Johnson, known to many in the pits as simply "Tire Guy".
Dirk Henry debuted his new car in dominant fashion as he won the
Bernick's Pepsi Great North Legends Feature. Polesitter Greg Lohrenz
took the lead right away, but Henry was right behind, immediately turning
up the heat. Henry took the lead just before Bruce Allen crashed in turn
three. On the restart, Henry quickly distanced himself from everyone. The
race for second remained tight as Tim Brockhouse worked his way past
Lohrenz. Without any further cautions, Henry was able to run away from
everyone as he went on to pick up his second career Legends win.
Ace Valencour used a great starting spot to take the win in the
Thunder Car Feature. Starting on the pole, Valencour took the lead right
away. Lance Stueve, in search of his first win, pressured Valencour the
entire race. Stueve stayed within a car's length the entire race, but he
couldn't mount a challenge as he chased Valencour to the win.
David Bolstad has found some speed in the last few weeks and he put
it to good use as he won the Bernick's Pepsi UCAR Feature. Alan Thompson
took control at the start as the field stayed close behind, running
three-wide in the first few laps. Cory Flynn and Andy Mayavski got
together on lap five to bring out a caution. On the restart, Thompson had
Bolstad right alongside and it wasn't long before Bolstad took the lead.
Another caution with three laps remaining, saw Jeremy Fleck and Flynn
right behind the leader. Bolstad wasn't about to let this one get away
as he drove hard the final few laps and picked up the win. Flynn got by
Fleck with one to go as he finished a close second.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

In an early race move, Ryan Mathews rocketed to the front over the independence holiday weekend to win the ASL 150 at I-94 Raceway in Sauk Centre MN.

Mathews passed Nate Thiesse on lap four and never looked back. "I was just trying to drive easy and it seemed like nobody could catch me, the car didn't wiggle the entire race" said Mathews.

After a recent string of good runs Mathews was hungry to score his first win of 2005. "It's been frustrating this year because we have had so many dominant cars and for whatever reason we've had something go wrong and lost the race. We finally got one!"

Mathews bested a strong field of drivers that included two former ASA Champions, Kevin Cywinski and Bryan Reffner to win his first career ASL race. "It's kind of neat to win in an ASL car becuase they are so different, every time we race we seem to learn a little more" said Mathews.

Trevor Stewart delighted his home state fans with an impressive late race charge through the pack to finish as the runner up. "We needed a caution, we wanted the fans to throw something on the track like they do at Indy" joked Stewart.

Fast timer in practice and time trials Paul Paine stayed near the front the entire race and finished third but was not able to challenge for the win. "I wore out my stuff racing with Cywinski" said Paine. "He passed me when I was trying to keep the tires under my car. Then I passed him and he passed me back again, then I got by him twords the end of the race. By that time my stuff was all used up."

Also finishing on the lead lap was Kevin Cywinski in fourth then Jonathan Davenport and Nate Thiesse in his ASL debut.

The next race will be Tuesday August 2nd at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna WI.

** The ASL only raced one year, when the ASA National tour folded and before the ASA Midwest tour began. ASL founder Gary Vercauteran suddenly died in October of 2005.

*** If you notice.. future NASCAR Cup series driver Landon Cassill finished 8th, he was only 16 yrs old. Future ASA Midwest tour champion Andrew Morrissey was 9th and Jarit Johnson (older brother of NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson) in a car prepared by Butch Miller finished 10th. Hal Collins came all the way from Fort Worth Texas to race in this event, driving an open trailer to haul his car, he finished 12th.

Here is a youtube video of the entire event courtesy of Wogggieee

If anyone has photo's of this event we could include with the article please send them to i94raceway@gmail.com

The real characters of this period had to be #3 Modified Rick (photo below) and Karla Burns. Rick was the consistent "old school" driver who was one of the toughest guys to pass, he would always run you side-by-side for 6-8 laps before giving up any position. Karla was the organized, take care of "the issues" crew chief. If you wanted to know any racing gossip or needed any help, just ask Karla, to find her just listen in the pits for that distinctive laugh and look for the poofy blond hair.

The two biggest races were the MN Vikings childrens charity fun races. Craig Pommeranke and Patrick Leopold helped bring many former Vikings to the track to raise money and sign autographs. The players also raced Legends cars:

In 1997 Scott Studwell and Steve Jordan crossed the finish line together to tie for the win. "Benchwarmer" Bob Lurtsema, Darrin Nelson, Carl Eller, Bill "boom boom" Brown, Tommy Kraemer, Joe Senser and Jim Marshall all were in attendance.

In 1998 Jim Marshall backed Gary Meuller's car into the front stretch wall in the heat race. The Vikings mascot Ragnar won the feature race followed by Carl Eller, Bill Brown, Scott Studwell, Ted Brown, Greg Coleman and Doug Southerland. These were great events with big crowds and, might I say, the former Vikings could not have been more gracious to the fans.

After a few years of WISSOTA Sanctioning the track switched to NASCAR in 1998 & 1999. The NASCAR Remax challenge series made a stop at I-94 on Friday June 26th 1998. The race night was rained out and so the cars raced on Saturday afternoon because the staff had to be up at Fergus Falls on Saturday night, Brian Hoppe won.

The best interview of this time was Scott "the iceman" Brandt, he was the Great North Legends champion from 1997-1999.

The trucks raced at I-94 and put on a great show from 1997-1999 even though only 4-6 trucks raced on a weekly basis. They were all evenly matched and it seemed like they took turns winning exciting features. Jim Dehann, Greg Meyer and Eugene Dick are the champions.

In 1996 Larry Rossell (photo above) won a close points battle with Steve Johanneck to gain his first point title. It was tight again in 1997, Larry Button was his closest rival. Coming into the final feature event and just a few points out of the lead Rossell had to finish ahead of Button for a chance to win the championship. Button came up big and won the feature event with Rossell on his tail at the checkered flag. During the post race inspection it was discovered that Buttons muffler fell off during the race resulting in an automatic DQ. That means Rossell wins the point championship. Not so fast... Larry Rossell witnessed the whole spectacle and didn't feel right about the situation and volunteered to be DQ'd for a safety violation, so the points would remain the same as before the race and Button would win the point title. Rossell not only gave up the championship but also had to forfeit the $400 prize money for the night, a very classy move for the #5 Modified driver. I don't know of too many guys who would've given up a point title to show respect for another competitor. This should go down as one of the best stories in I-94 History.

After a seven year run the "Speedway Show" on KMSR radio ended in 1997. I was the announcer at the I-94 track in Fergus Falls and due to a work conflict was not able to attend every race night at Sauk Centre during this period but, with the help of Rick Burns, Jim Fischer and Mark Blom we built a four cyl race car. I raced in the new UCAR division part-time for three years, finishing 11th in points twice and won a heat race with Nick Binsfeld on my rear bumper the last couple laps. Those are years I will never forget.

1997-1999 was a "building block" time at I-94, some very big changes were on the horizon.